by B. N. Hale
The old man cracked a rare smile. “It happens to all of us,” he said, and then called on another student.
The girl answered correctly, and the brief excitement diminished back to the previous stupor. Reed frowned, annoyed that he’d let his conflict impede his studies. He was usually very attentive in class, so the lapse came as a surprise to him and his friends, who cast him quizzical looks.
The clock ticked on the hour and Dr. Caldin dismissed the class. “Mr. Hansen?” he called amid the rush of papers and conversation. “May I speak to you for a moment?”
Reed stuffed his notebook into his laptop case and then shouldered the bag. Threading his way against the flow of escaping students, he reached the base of the classroom as Dr. Caldin turned off the projector.
“You seem distracted,” Dr. Caldin said.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “just thinking about my thesis.”
“Still planning on graduating in December?”
Reed nodded. “Just summer classes and then I’ll finish my thesis in the fall.”
Dr. Caldin peered over his glasses. “Are you certain there is nothing else? Your clever response in class aside, I suspect your thoughts are not on your coursework.”
Reed cracked a smile at the observation. “It might have to do with a girl.”
“It always does,” he replied. “And if it’s intruding on your coursework, I suspect this particular girl is remarkable.”
“She is,” he said.
“Then don’t let her go,” Dr. Caldin said with a definitive nod. “Regret is the most abhorrent emotion.”
“Is that going to be on the exam?” Reed asked.
Dr. Caldin regarded him with a knowing smile. “Not my exam, but grades in life matter more than in my class.”
“Can I quote you?”
“I’ll deny it,” he replied, picking up his own laptop. “I’ll see you next week, Mr. Hansen.”
Reed watched him go with a faint smile. Most considered Dr. Caldin the quintessentially boring professor—which he was, in class—but Reed had gotten to know him during a semester as his teacher’s assistant. The man harbored a dry sense of humor and wit that rarely manifested in front of a class. Privately, Reed suspected the man enjoyed putting his class to sleep and then calling on drowsy students, a game that provided amusement in the perpetually repetitive professor life.
Now alone, Reed ascended the classroom steps and stepped outside, blinking at the brilliance. The doors opened onto a large grassy area between buildings, the towering trees casting shade on the green expanse. Pockets of students sat beneath the trees, seeking to escape the afternoon heat as they prepared for upcoming finals. Groups were common, but a small crowd stood on the lawn outside the psychology building.
The group of forty turned to face him, swiveling as Reed appeared. All wore masks and carried water guns, the odd combination drawing attention from the scattered students. They drifted closer to the brewing conflict, pointing and smiling as they held up their phones to record. Reed spotted Dr. Caldin standing a short distance away, a slight smile on his face, as if he’d intentionally held him after class.
“Dr. Caldin?” he called. “I assume she got to you?”
“I admit nothing,” he replied. “But you might want to leave your laptop behind.”
Taking his advice, Reed removed his bag. By then the army of water gun toting students had arrayed themselves into a gauntlet, with another masked figure at the end. Most of the masks were from Halloween, with a pair of wolfmen, a few zombies, and even a Darth Vader. The one waiting at the end wore a horned masquerade mask, but he recognized Kate’s figure. She smiled and pulled a massive, four-foot envelope into view.
Fashioned from cardboard and painted to look like a letter, the envelope was clearly addressed to him. The implication was clear, that he had to run the gauntlet of water guns to get the message.
He grinned and removed his phone, tucking it into his laptop case to protect it. The act drew a round of laughter from those surveying the exchange and he noticed more with their phones out, clearly wanting to video the watery carnage.
“I suppose I have to run the gauntlet to get the invite?” he called.
The one in the masquerade mask smiled and nodded, and those with guns began pumping the handles, pressurizing their weapons. Reed began to laugh and readied himself for a sprint. Then he surged forward and forty masked attackers pulled the trigger, engulfing him in water.
To continue to Volume 8, you can find 27 Dates: The Fair Date on Amazon here.
Author Bio
Originally from Utah, Ben has grown up with a passion for learning. While still young, he practiced various sports, became an Eagle Scout, and taught himself to play the piano. As a teenager he began creative dating and continued the practice into college, where he took a break to do volunteer work in Brazil. After school, he launched his first series, The Chronicles of Lumineia, and has since published over 20 titles across multiple genres. He loves to snowboard, build treehouses, and play board games, especially with his family. His greatest support and inspiration comes from his wonderful wife and six beautiful children. Currently he resides in Missouri while working on his Masters in Professional Writing.
To contact the author, discover more about 27 Dates, or find out about the upcoming sequels, check out his website at 27Dates.com. You can also follow the author on twitter @27Dates or Facebook.
